A's Steal Giambi!

[love_that_reefer]

ESPN's Buster Olney reports that the A's are on the verge of completing a one-year, $5.25 million deal with Jason Giambi.
If Olney's numbers are correct, it's a major steal for Oakland. The contract also carries an option for 2010 worth just $4 million. Giambi made $23.5 million last season and hit .247/.373/.502 with 32 dingers and 96 RBI.

Wow!! 32 HRs, 96 RBI and a .875 OPS for a base salary of just a littl over $5 million?? This is awesome! We saw the Yankees overpay for veryone and now the small market teams are getting guys on the cheap. Still think the Yankees are bad for baseball? Good signing for Beane. Giambi protecting Holliday will pay off.

[ljshorty89]

Well, Yankee Stadium is fairly easy for lefties to hit HR, so those numbers probably won't translate directly, but still, the deal is cheap, and they will likely get a solid offensive contributor.

[Providence A's]

NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! NOOOOOO!!!!!!!

He has had plenty of success at McAfee Coliseum IIRC. Regardless of the salary, you're paying for past performance. There's no guarantee that he'll produce at that level this season. I guess this means Barton will be in AAA where he should have been last season. I hope they don't trade him. I still don't like this move at all.

[cjkalt]

No offense to Barton but he needs more time to develop, let Giambi be a good stop gap and give Holliday some protection for this year. I think its a great move by the A's

[NYgiantsfan5689]

Giambi actually isn't THAT cheap, this is what some of these hitters are going for now that the top guys have gone. Expect to see Dunn go for just a little higher.

[Providence A's]

Barton should have developed at AAA last season and he would have been ready this season, but they rushed him up for some reason. Giambi weakens our defense...assuming he does play 1B. If he DHs and they put Cust in the OF, then the defense is even weaker. We also have too many left-handed hitters that will presumably be in the middle of the lineup (Giambi, Cust, Chavez) with Holliday being the only right-handed hitter. It'll be fine vs. RHP, but terrible vs. LHP and horrible come late innings vs. the LOOGY...who will become the LTOGY (Left Three Out Guy) if you don't break the lefties up.

[love_that_reefer]

Giambi is making $3 million less than Burrell for the same production. Giambi is that cheap!

[NYgiantsfan5689]

Giambi will not produce what Burrell will next season, guarantee you

[cjkalt]

Burrell is on the better team but they will be closer than you think, cause Giambi gets 19 games vs Texas and doesn't have 38 of Red Sox and Yankees

[love_that_reefer]

Exactly cjkalt! Giambi plays in the worst AL division and will get good opportunities with Holliday hitting in front of him. Omar Vizquel make close to $5 million last year. Its a steal!!

[NYgiantsfan5689]

Giambi is also 38 this year, while Burrell is only 33

[love_that_reefer]

So? They are both DH material

[NYgiantsfan5689]

Burrell can play competent defense. And look at Giambi's batting numbers when he DH's, it's STAGGERINGLY lower. He needs to play the field or else he can't hit

[love_that_reefer]

Giambi is playing the field and Burrell is just as bad in the OF as Giambi is at first. Both are slow and one dimensional. Dude, if Omar Vizquel makes $5 million and a guy with an OPS of .875 just a little over $5 million, its a ****ing steal anyway you slice it!

[cjkalt]

Giambi is passable at 1B... Burrell is not passable in LF, hence why he will DH 90% of the time.

I mean here is a blind resume of players making 5 mil next season and you tell me who'd you rather have

Player A: .246 12 HR 46 RBI
Player B: .293 6 HR 33 RBI OPS .781
Player C: .247 32 HR 96 RBI OPS .875
Player D: 50.1 IP 6.44 ERA WHIP 1.57
Player E: 94.2 IP 6.27 ERA WHIP 1.63

I'd keep going but I think my point is made.